Monday, February 4, 2013

Day 7 Of Boy Hostage

A close-knit Alabama community has blanketed their town with fliers imploring people to pray for a boy held hostage for almost seven days, as authorities release new details on the man allegedly holding him in an underground bunker.

Authorities say 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes, a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, gunned down a school bus driver and then abducted a 5-year-old boy from the bus, taking him to the bunker on his rural property.

On Sunday, more than 500 people paid final tribute to the driver, 66-year-old Charles Albert Poland Jr., hailing him as a hero for protecting the other children on the bus.

Dykes, described as a loner who railed against the government, lives up a dirt road outside this tiny hamlet north of Dothan in the southeast corner of the state. His home is just off the main road north to the state capital of Montgomery, about 80 miles away.

The FBI said in a statement Sunday that authorities continue to have an open line of communication with Dykes and that they planned to deliver to the bunker additional comfort items such as food, toys and medicine. They also said Dykes was making the child as comfortable as possible.

Government records and interviews with neighbors indicate that Dykes grew up in the Dothan area and joined the Navy in Midland City, serving on active duty from 1964 to 1969. His record shows several awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. During his service, Dykes was trained in aviation maintenance.

Later, Dykes lived in Florida, where he worked as a surveyor and a long-haul truck driver although it's unclear how long.

He had some scrapes with the law there, including a 1995 arrest for improper exhibition of a weapon. The misdemeanor was dismissed. He also was arrested for marijuana possession in 2000.

He returned to Alabama about two years ago, moving onto the rural tract about 100 yards from his nearest neighbors, Michael Creel and his father, Greg.

Neighbors described Dykes as a man who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property, and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm. Michael Creel said Dykes had an adult daughter, but the two lost touch years ago.

The Dykes property has a white trailer which, according to Creel, Dykes said he bought from FEMA after it was used to house evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. The property also has a steel shipping container -- like those on container ships -- in which Dykes stores tools and supplies.

Next to the container is the underground bunker where authorities say Dykes is holed up with the 5-year-old. Neighbors say that the bunker has a pipe so Dykes could hear people coming near his driveway. Authorities have been using the ventilation pipe to communicate with him.

The younger Creel, who said he helped Dykes with supplies to build the bunker and has been in it twice, said Dykes wanted protection from hurricanes.

"He said he lived in Florida and had hurricanes hit. He wanted someplace he could go down in and be safe," Creel said. Authorities say the bunker is about 6 feet by 8 feet, and the only entrance is a trap door at the top.

Such bunkers are not uncommon in rural Alabama because of the threat of tornadoes.

Greg Creel was a friend of Dykes, but he said he would not comment for The Associated Press. "I will only talk to the police and the FBI," he said.

Michael Creel said Dykes kept to himself and listened a lot to conservative talk radio.

"He was very into what's going on with the nation and the politics and all the laws being made. The things he didn't agree with, he would ventilate," he said.

James Arrington, police chief of the neighboring town of Pinckard, put it differently.

"He's against the government, starting with Obama on down," he said.

Morris Dees of Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, a group that tracks hate crimes, said Dykes was not on the group's radar.

Although the fatal shootings in December at a school in Newtown, Conn., are still on everyone's mind, Dees said he doesn't think Dykes was trying to be a copycat.

"Probably not. He had a whole bus load full of kids, and he could have walked up there and shot the whole crowd of them," he said.

"I think he's just a really angry and bitter guy with some anger management issues," Dees said. "He is just against everything -- the government and his neighbors."

The mother of the 5-year-old boy is 'hanging on by a thread,' said a local politician who visited the woman.

State Rep. Steve Clouse, who represents the Midland City area, said the mother told him that the boy has Asperger's syndrome as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

Residents are praying for the safe return of the boy.

"The community is real concerned," said Fred McNab, mayor of Pinckard, Ala. "You can tell by the food that's been carried over there to the church. It's just devastating. We want it to come to a resolution. We want to save that little child."

20 comments:

Will the PFA (Professional football association) support Paul Gascoigne.

Paul Gascoigne 'Relapse': PFA Vows SupportConcerns are growing for the former England player after he seemed unwell and was shaking during a charity appearance.

Paul Gascoigne still believes he can "get back on track" after his latest "relapse", according to players' chief Gordon Taylor.

Gascoigne, who has spoken about alcoholism problems in the past and was sectioned five years ago under the Mental Health Act, appeared to be unwell and trembling at a charity appearance in Northampton on Thursday.

His agent Terry Baker said the 45-year-old had been drinking and needs immediate help, suggesting Gascoigne's life is "always in danger".

The Professional Footballers' Association has vowed to continue giving the former England midfielder as much support as possible - and having been in contact with Gascoigne over the weekend, the union's chief executive Taylor said: "He still feels he is capable of getting back on track and [that] it is a relapse he has had.Gascoigne leapt to the world's attention during World Cup 1990"I can ONLY say, whatever help he needs, he must come on [board] and we will help to provide it.

"I think he does need specialist care and a very strong 24-hour support system, but again, it needs him to be part of that."

Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker admits he is struggling to see a positive outcome for his former England and Tottenham team-mate Gascoigne.

He tweeted: "I can only hope he finds peace somehow, but fear those hopes may be forlorn."

Mr Taylor has expressed his concern that the case could be comparable with that of George Best, the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland winger who died aged 59 in 2005 after a long struggle with alcoholism.

However, he is adamant the PFA will not be giving up on Gascoigne - and after ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel commented on Twitter that the organisation needed to "step up" their efforts to help the troubled star, Mr Taylor has also stressed how much work they have already put in.

He said: "I can't think of a player who has had more support and constant help over the number of years that we have been there for Paul.

"It is quite ironic - it is nice that people like Peter Schmeichel care about him, but they don't appreciate the work we have done for him, a lot of which has to be confidential.

"If anything, I have been criticised at times for keeping faith and trying to keep going with him."

How long are authorities going to let this hostage situation play out? The damage being done to this young boy is not something he will ever recover from. His mom has been described as hanging on by a string. She must be a mess. I know I would be.

I watched a special on tv this weekend about hostage negotiators and how they are patient and feel time is on their side but there must be a cut off time for action. Can't they lower something in the guise of food/medicine that will put them to sleep and the authorities could get in?

BostonLady,I agree. This murderer has threatened animals and children who came onto his property. The authorities are publicly stating he is taking good care of the 5 year old to stay in his good graces. But what is really going on down there? I doubt this man who has disowned his family, beaten a dog with a lead pipe, and murdered a bus driver with multiple close range gun shot wounds is singing lullibies to this boy. Let's pretend he has Obama down there and do what it takes to get this kid out.

DEVELOPING: A law enforcement source says initial reports indicate that a five-year-old boy who was being held hostage in an underground bunker in Alabama for nearly a week has been released.

Authorities say 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes shot and killed a bus driver last week in Midland City and then abducted the boy.

Dykes is now dead, the source says, but the boy is in stable condition. An ambulance was seen leaving the area of the bunker.

The FBI said in a statement Sunday that authorities were having open lines of communication with Dykes. The little boy requested Cheez-Its and a red Hot Wheels car, both of which were delivered to the bunker, a separate statement said. Authorities had said they also delivered medicine and other comfort items, and that Dykes was made the child as comfortable as possible.

On Sunday, more than 500 people paid final tribute to the driver that was killed, 66-year-old Charles Albert Poland Jr., hailing him as a hero for protecting the other children on the bus.

Poland is now "an angel who is watching over" the little boy, said Dale County School Superintendent Donny Bynum, who read letters written by three students who had ridden on Poland's bus. "You didn't deserve to die but you died knowing you kept everyone safe," one child wrote.

Outside the funeral, school buses from several counties lined the funeral procession route. The buses had black ribbons tied to their side mirrors.

Dykes grew up in the Dothan area. Mel Adams, a Midland City Council member who owns the lot where reporters are gathered, said he has known Dykes since they were ages 3 and 4.

He said Dykes has a sister and a brother, but that he is estranged from his family.

Adams said he didn't know what caused the falling-out, but that he knew Dykes "had told part of his family to go to hell."

Dykes, also described as a loner who railed against the government, lived up a dirt road outside this tiny hamlet north of Dothan in the southeast corner of the state. His home is just off the main road north to the state capital of Montgomery, about 80 miles away.

Government records and interviews with neighbors indicate that Dykes grew up in the Dothan area and joined the Navy in Midland City, serving on active duty from 1964 to 1969. His record shows several awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. During his service, Dykes was trained in aviation maintenance.

At some point after his time in the Navy, Dykes lived in Florida, where he worked as a surveyor and a long-haul truck driver. It's unclear how long he stayed there.

He had some scrapes with the law there, including a 1995 arrest for improper exhibition of a weapon. The misdemeanor was dismissed. He also was arrested for marijuana possession in 2000.

Dykes returned to Alabama about two years ago, moving onto the rural tract about 100 yards from his nearest neighbors, Michael Creel and his father, Greg.

"He said he lived in Florida and had hurricanes hit. He wanted someplace he could go down in and be safe," Creel said. Authorities say the bunker is about 6 feet by 8 feet, and the only entrance is a trap door at the top.

Neighbors described Dykes as a man who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property, and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm. Michael Creel said Dykes had an adult daughter, but the two lost touch years ago.

The Dykes property has a white trailer which, according to Creel, Dykes said he bought from FEMA after it was used to house evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. The property also has a steel shipping container -- like those on container ships -- in which Dykes stored tools and supplies.

Next to the container is the underground bunker where authorities say Dykes holed up with the 5-year-old. Neighbors say that the bunker has a pipe so Dykes could hear people coming near his driveway. Authorities were using the ventilation pipe to communicate with him.

The mother of the 5-year-old boy was 'hanging on by a thread,' during the standoff, said a local politician who visited the woman.

State Rep. Steve Clouse, who represents the Midland City area, said the mother told him that the boy has Asperger's syndrome as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

I am not surprised the abductor killed himself, he knew he would face the death penalty or LWOP.* days was the sensitive time, I expected by day 8 to hear of a release/rescue and the death of the abductor. I did not expect the abductor to hand himself in.

OT- Brad and I have been fighting, or not getting along... He asked me for money (somtimes I get paid mondays, sometimes Tuesdays)..I said.."No I was not paid, trust me, no, I was not paid"... It was the TRUTH, but he accused me of lying... If I were doing SA on me, i would think i was lying..yet I was being honest..../comments welcome

OT- Brad and I have been fighting, or not getting along... He asked me for money (somtimes I get paid mondays, sometimes Tuesdays)..I said.."No I was not paid, trust me, no, I was not paid"... It was the TRUTH, but he accused me of lying... If I were doing SA on me, i would think i was lying..yet I was being honest..../comments welcome

Sella,sometimes people use Phrases like trust me,to tell you the truth all the time when being honest,i think the key is to look to see when these phrases get dropped from their language when they say their speaking the truth..Just a thought.

To me your statement sounds truthful...it follows the formula, first person, past tense, event specific..so the only issue is the repeating and 'trust me' statement.

I would think you were being truthful but were 'sensitive' to the question for the reason you stated...you sometimes DO get paid on Mon. So you felt the need to emphasize...no really, trust me, I didn't get paid. Either that or maybe you felt prompted to issue a more emphatic denial because of a 'look' or repeated questions?

TY all for the replies...I guess when I said TRUST ME, i felt a little bad..but i was not paid..i did however have money on me...so I wondered if my subconscience said TRUST me..knowing i could have given him money...but not my paycheck.... Maybe I am trying to delve more into this than i should..

Thanks for sharing-exercises like this where you can get an answer about what the person was actually thinking, rather than just speculating helps to bring a better understanding of why we chose the words we do.

Don't feel bad...you didn't lie and it's your money to lend as you see fit...plus you helped us all gain a little SA perspective!